Electronics, Microelectronics and Microprocessors: What They Are

The electronics industry barely existed at the beginning of the twentieth century. Elementary telephones and gramophones were known but were in the main based on mechanical ingenuity. The existence of radio waves and the ‘wireless’ was known only to very few, and then with a degree of scepticism. Today every home takes some sort of electronic device for granted and knowingly or unknowingly every person relies upon electronics for the manufacture of everyday goods or the provision of everyday services. The international airways system could not operate, and billing for electricity, gas, and telephone could not be done without electronics. Indeed the majority of those in full-time employment would not be paid at all without the help of a computer. As a result of this technical progress a great worldwide industry has developed employing large numbers of people and creating vast wealth. There is no reason to suppose that the pace of technical development of the past 80 years will slow down. While everybody is already touched lightly by electronics, the developments that are ‘on the drawing board’ right now will influence everybody’s lives even more profoundly.